Gates buoyed by progress in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited with American troops in Afghanistan Friday, saying he sees progress in the war against insurgents there.

Gates said in a Defense Department release he saw improvements in the partnership between Afghan, coalition and U.S. security forces, and expressed satisfaction that junior and senior U.S. military officers understand the Afghanistan strategy.

"It all points in a positive direction," Gates said.

Gates reiterated, however, there will be tough days to come.

"There will be more casualties," Gates said. "They face a resilient enemy, but ... [American forces] know what [they're] doing here, they know what they're supposed to do, they understand the importance of partnering and they understand the importance of getting the Afghans in the lead as soon as possible.

"In terms of understanding what we need to do, we're a long way ahead of where we were a year or two or three ago."

Gates pointed to a NATO summit to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, in November and an Afghanistan strategy review in December. He said he believes there could be enough evidence of progress by then "to determine whether we are on the right track, and based on what I've seen here today, I'm hopeful that we will be in that position."

The defense secretary also awarded Purple Heart medals to several 101st Airborne Division soldiers at Combat Outpost Seranjay.